In One Year

Last year, on a whim, I decided to audition for "Hairspray." A lark. It was community theater, so I knew I'd be in the show.
But thanks be to Adam Cannon, who gave someone totally unknown to him a chance, I got a part.
Since then, I have been in shows almost constantly.
Today, a well-known playwright, Mahonri Stewart, recommended me to the director who's doing his current show to give me a part.
I am pretty darn flabbergasted.
For so many years, I have felt too old, too fat, too worn out to do theater. It turns out, I was just waiting for the right time.
Tonight's rehearsal went great. The cast members seem neat. I've already found at least one Democrat in the group. I'm going to be kissing a man who isn't my husband. Something I haven't done since I said "I do" to Craig over 17 years ago.
I will be doing theater nonstop pretty much until the end of July. And then? Who knows?
Feeling blessed.
And props to my dude of over 17 years who never even questioned if he'd be cool with this latest venture. He told me that of course I should do the show.
Gosh.
Keep Playing! You know I will!

Up and Down and Memorizing Sucks

I had hoped with the blog that I could keep everything separate. This blog would be about this (like about a certain play or something), while that blog was about simply this one thing.

Today that's not really working out. See, I had a really cool thing happen--a really amazing thing really. But I need to start earlier. As I travel around reviewing plays, I've gotten to know people. Some have become friends. (And some not, but I won't go there today.) One friend, Jeff, works for a theater company in Salt Lake City--the Off Broadway Theater (OBT). Jeff and I have hit it off and remained in contact. He blessed me by attending "Hairspray" and telling me he liked it.

Without going into details (that are altogether fascinating and what I consider a miracle but I'm too tired to type out right now) Jeff got me an audition for the OBT for their Christmas show. I know it sounds weird, but they're doing a show with a Sesame Street--Mr. Rogers--Suessical theme. I went to the assistant director's house today and auditioned because the call backs for the show are tomorrow. I will be busy with opening night for "Impossible Mystery."

Long story short--the audition was super fun! Wendy liked me, said I have "good diction" (preening--really?) I asked, "So you don't think I sound like a Poindexter?" She said no. Yeah! She said she felt a real connection with me. She said, "If you don't get cast in this show, keep auditioning, and when I do my own shows (she also directs) I'll let you know. I want you in my show."

Okay, wow.

I drove home intermittently crying--feeling blessed.

Then I went to dress rehearsal for "Impossible Mystery." I forgot half my lines, and I don't have too many. Everything felt all flustered, disorganized. I was dazzled by the show and forgot all the timing, the storyline (as this is how I remember things: this comes first, then this, then this). I was completely screwed up.

I came home and wanted to cry, but this time from humiliation. Wendy, the assistant director, asked me if I was good at memorizing. I was honest. I told her I was okay.

I need to do something, learn something, so I can memorize better. This feels like a phobia or something. I want to do this--live theater--so I have to figure out a way to do it well.

Keep Playing! (and for me tonight--I will keep praying.)